Point Bob Fun

From the Delta Optimist....

I promised the "Pegster" that I would take a week off from commenting on our local issues and try to lighten up a little. I guess it is easy to pick off the pent up resentment of people who see all bad in the world and spent most of their time dissing anything that resembles thoughtful progress. It's a little more difficult to take a breath, kick back and discuss smaller but probably more important topics.

Luckily I had the chance to do this last week in Point Roberts where my family spent a portion of a recent vacation. We joined 15 or 16 other families in Lighthouse Park where we spent a few days taking in the sights sounds of a summer that seems long overdue. Our hosts were Ben and Lynne VanBuskirk and if you don't know them, you should. They are wonderful people.

The kids, and there were billions of them, had an incredible time. A bike, a fishing rod and enough stinky bacon made for hours of uncomplicated fun. I could sit on that beach all day listening to the banter of up and coming fisher-people describing their briny booty. It has always amazed me that no one has caught an ear when there are so many kids casting at once from the wharf.

The views of the southwestern Gulf Islands from Lighthouse Park are magnificent and they provided a serene backdrop when we were able to take in the Orca show on a couple of different occasions.

One day we hiked down the trail from Lilly Point to explore on one of the lowest tides of the year. This was an incredible experience. As the kids hiked up the sand cliffs to take in the view from 100 ft, a dozen or two mature eagles and their fledglings circled and called from their roosts in the surrounding massive maple trees.

We watched in awe as the mature Eagles cut though the air with talons poised to pull bullheads and other fare from rock studded tidal pools. Some friends kayaked in to the bay and a bunch of the parents immediately shed a couple of decades from their lives to 'huck' the frisbee around on a seldom seen sand bar while taking in the spectacular vistas of Mount Baker and points South East.

Back to camp and approaching dinner time on one of these lazy days would see tarp sheltered moms and dads chopping and dicing grilling and boiling while packs of children roamed free playing 'manhunt' amongst the arid landscape which is laden with secret trails carved through blooming blackberry bushes and wild roses.

A close to these unfettered and blissful days would see a massive circle take form around the open fire where dozens of conversations would take place at once interrupted occasionally by acoustic guitars or by the odd game of charades.

It is easy to take your friends and family for granted. Summer is the time to be human. It is fleeting....get out and enjoy it.

Happy summer everyone.